Merthyr Tydfil

Merthyr Tydfil's population increased by about 2,800 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 59,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Merthyr Tydfil increased by 5.0%, from almost 56,000 to 58,800.

The addition of just over 2,800 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Merthyr Tydfil was home to, on average, 3.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Merthyr Tydfil

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Merthyr Tydfil increased by two years, from 38 to 40 years.

This area had a slightly lower average age than Blaenau Gwent (one of the most statistically similar areas to Merthyr Tydfil based on ONS area classifications) (41 years of age) and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across Wales (41 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 2,100 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 14.0% of people in Merthyr Tydfil are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Merthyr Tydfil fell from 10.0% to 8.9% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 400 fewer people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 2,908.

In Rhondda Cynon Taf (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Merthyr Tydfil), the proportion of people over the age of three who could speak some Welsh remained close to 12.3%. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 20.5% to 19.0%.

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

More single people in Merthyr Tydfil

Merthyr Tydfil saw Wales' second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

During this period, Merthyr Tydfil overtook Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wrexham to become the Wales local authority area with the fifth-highest percentage of single people.

In 2011, just over one in three (35.3%) people aged 16 and over in Merthyr Tydfil said they were single, compared with 28.2% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 50.9% to 45.1%.

Wales' largest increase in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership occurred in Cardiff (from 37.7% to 45.0%).

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Merthyr Tydfil increased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over in Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wales that said they were single, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

Merthyr Tydfil saw Wales' largest fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across Wales saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 12.5% to 7.6%.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11.2%) in Merthyr Tydfil said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 18.1% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 58.6% to 73.0%.

Cardiff saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad (from 10.2% to 6.4%).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Merthyr Tydfil decreased by 6.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

Merthyr Tydfil saw Wales' largest rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple.

During this period, Merthyr Tydfil overtook 17 local authority areas, including Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan, to become the Wales local authority area with the third-highest percentage of cohabiting households.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10.5%) households in Merthyr Tydfil had an unmarried couple, compared with 6.4% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising just one person decreased from 28.9% to 27.0%.

Blaenau Gwent saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple (from 7.1% to 10.4%).

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Merthyr Tydfil increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wales that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

Merthyr Tydfil saw Wales' largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

During this period, Merthyr Tydfil overtook Rhondda Cynon Taf to become the Wales local authority area with the highest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just under one in seven (14.2%) households in Merthyr Tydfil had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 11.7% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 33.5% to 31.5%.

Bridgend saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 10.4% to 12.0%).

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across Wales

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

Merthyr Tydfil saw Wales' second-largest rise in the proportion of unemployed people.

During this period, Merthyr Tydfil overtook Gwynedd and Isle of Anglesey to become the Wales local authority area with the second-highest percentage of unemployed people.

In 2011, just over 1 in 18 (5.7%) people aged 16 to 74 in Merthyr Tydfil said they were unemployed, compared with 4.0% in 2001. The percentage that were employed increased from 44.4% to 50.2%.

Wales' largest increase in the proportion of unemployed people occurred in Blaenau Gwent (from 4.7% to 6.9%).

The rate of unemployment in Merthyr Tydfil increased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wales that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Merthyr Tydfil

The percentage of Merthyr Tydfil residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 5.8% to 6.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 16 (6.4%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.8% in 2001. The percentage of Merthyr Tydfil residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 87.4%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at the third fastest rate of all local authority districts across Wales. As a result, this area had the country's third highest proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability and the lowest proportion of homeowners.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Merthyr Tydfil residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 3.9% to 4.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 2.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care fell at the third fastest rate of all local authority districts across Wales. As a result, this area had the country's second highest proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care and the lowest proportion of homeowners.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Merthyr Tydfil remained close to 4.0%

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Merthyr Tydfil

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Merthyr Tydfil was among those who said they had no religion, rising 15.6 points.

In 2011, 38.5% of respondents in Merthyr Tydfil gave this religion on the census compared with 22.9% of those who answered in 2001.

Across Wales, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 20.2% to 34.7%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 60.3% said they were Christian, compared with 76.2% in 2001. About 0.1% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 9.1% to 7.6%.

In Merthyr Tydfil, 7.0% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 8.4% in 2001. In Wales, 7.6% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 8.1% in 2001. Across England, 7.6% of people did not answer, compared with 8.1% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Merthyr Tydfil increased by 15 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in Wales, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Merthyr Tydfil that rented privately increased from 6.2% to 11.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in five (21.1%) households lived in social housing, compared with 22.8% in 2001. While the percentage of Merthyr Tydfil households that owned their home decreased from 66.9% to 65.3%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to nearby Rhondda Cynon Taf (which remained close 13.7%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 8.6% to 14.1%.

Private renting in Merthyr Tydfil increased by 5.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wales that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Merthyr Tydfil working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 9.8% to 7.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to nearby Rhondda Cynon Taf (which remained close 7.6%). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 12.0% to 9.3%.

Long hour working in Merthyr Tydfil decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wales that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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